:: [ex]changed.life ::

:: Monday, January 31, 2005 ::

ridiculous

A friend of mine sent me this link today. You can tell it's totally doctored up, but it is pretty hysterical. "2 points!" Apparently, it's a promo for a movie called "Pump It Up."

(BTW, for you basketball fanatics out there, I hope you enjoy the clip. MO, I'm thinkin' of you, buddy...)

:: Adam 10:22 AM link ::
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no go

It's 9:30AM on Sunday morning. I Should be @ Crosspointe playing the bass by now. Should be preaching a sermon in about 1 hour. But, alas, the ice storm that shut down the majority of Northern Georgia today shut us down as well.

Yesterday afternoon I determined to drive up to the Church building and survey the parking lot. We had already cancelled our 9:30AM activities, and the 10:45 service was pending. Scraping off the ice from my truck was a major annoyance. There was literally about 1/2 an inch to a full inch in places (the inch was, in my estimation, on the side where the wind and sleet must've been blowing all night). I finally cleared enough to be able to drive--soaking my jacket from ice chippings in the process.

The parking lot was a mess! The front parking lot was mostly slush by the time I got there. Still slipped on the black ice on my way to the door. The back parking lot was a different story. That lot is shaded by trees, so it was a huge ice skating rink! It was pretty unbelievable. I shuffled along throughout the parking lot and thought: "law suit." So, we cancelled services.

Gerry and my bro came up and the three of us tackled loosening up the ice on the front sidewalks and entry ways. We gave up after about an hour and headed home. (Scott made an apple pie earlier that day... mmm... I ate 1/2 of it on the way home!)

I wish I took some pictures yesterday. Perhaps I'll take a few today.

So, here I sit blogging. I think Kim and I will "go" to the online labyrinth today for a bit of alt.worship.

:: Adam 9:31 AM link ::
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a few more blogs

Just thought I'd put a couple-o more blogs up on my blogroll. I'm adding an old seminary pal of mine, Chad Austin. Chad's blog is called Chad's Running Commentary. He's got quite a number of posts for a baby blogger.

I am also adding a co-worker, Gerry Rogers. G's our Pastor of Student Ministries. Felt I'd give The.Big.G a bit-o help getting some traffic on his site.

I've recently discovered a couple-o blogs that have links to my blog on them, and from whom I've received some traffic. I felt like I should at least mention these folks so I could return the favor...

The World of The Scotsman - Jared is a student at me 'ole alma mater.

wind, wood and wire - Still on Andy's site. (He's another C-NC guy.)

Mr Rocky Top - Shawn is a student @ C-NC as well. He's a bit obsessed with The Amazing Race, though.

Jingleplumer's Xanga Site - Carrie was a leader in my student ministry a couple-o years back. Well, my blog isn't listed on her site, but my "xanga" which links to this blog is listed. (yes... I have a xanga site, too...)

A Disciple's Journal - Good Erwin McManus sound bite here.

Once again I ask: "why haven't you started a blog, yet?"

:: Adam 10:08 AM link ::
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blogroll update

Ron Willoughby has been blogging for a while. I just discovered his blog a few weeks ago. Anyway, Ron is a good friend of mine. Whilst in Maryland, he treated me to a pint-o Harp and a cigar. (Thanks, Ron!) Just thought I'd add his blog to my blogroll so you can check him out as well: hoosier1964.

I am also adding Planet Emergent to my blog roll. Thanks, Daniel, for the opportunity to be listed among so many folks much, much cooler and smarter than I is.

:: Adam 9:19 AM link ::
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Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 7

Well, it's been a long time since my last "Thanks. Thanks a lot." installment. Actually, my last posting was on September 29 of last year! I wish I could say it is because "that Church" is putting up rather decent signage on their, um, sign. But, its actually because I don't drive down that part of the road anymore since Kim and I moved. But, alas, I saw "it" this morning. Hold your breath...

"Failure is not an event. Its an option."

Well, thank you very much for that ever so profound surface scum chicken-soup-of-the-soul tid-bit to get me through the week. It has already impacted my life in unspeakable ways. This "Christianity" thing sure is an ever-flowing source of life-altering wisdom.

(sarcasm added free of charge.)

Believe it or not: I found "that Church" online a few moments ago. They have an entire page on their site dedicated to silly "Christianese" jokes. Oh--my--goodness...

The Archives
Part 6
Part 5
Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
Thanks. Thanks a lot.

:: Adam 2:26 PM link ::
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threat or invitation?

Ruminating over the words of Jesus in Luke 9:23-25:

Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"

Just thinking out loud: threat or invitation? The words of Christ cut me to the quick at times. This is one of those passages that just wrestles within me.

I love my life! Yet, to truly live I have to die. What kind of invitation is that?

I don't want to gain the whole world--or do I? What do I do about that part of me that wants a name? Wants to be remembered for something? That part of me that wants to outlast my physical life on earth?

This truly is the paradox of faith. I think this is one of those passages that draws me even closer to Jesus. He's so open and welcoming--but on his terms. And, who can deny such terms? He, himself, lived up to these terms when he gave up his life on my behalf. For someone as selfish as I am, this is a breath of fresh air... an invitation to die to my selfishness and truly live free.

What an example. What an invitation...

:: Adam 11:07 AM link ::
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massive baby

The other night at our band rehearsal one of our guitarists asked for prayer for his daughter who was pregnant. Apparently, she's carrying a pretty big baby--at 33 weeks it weighed 6lbs 11oz.

The next day, my bro and I searched the web for "big babies." Couldn't have happened at a better time! We found this article on CNN: Woman gives birth to giant baby - Jan 19, 2005. Apparently, earlier this week a Brazilian woman gave birth to a 16.7 pound baby (pictured).

Oh my goodness.

:: Adam 10:18 AM link ::
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reading update

Finally updated my current/recent reads. Thanks to my pal Tim for the sweet hook up (said in a Napoleon Dynamite voice) with McManus' Uprising. Tim hooked me up with a copy shortly after we were in Los Angeles for the Origins Project last year.

:: Adam 9:51 AM link ::
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return

Kim and I returned from our Maryland excursion last night. We had a wonderful time visiting friends.

A few highlights...

On Sunday we headed to Covenant Life Church for worship service. The service lasted almost two-and-a-half hours! It was a beautiful mixture of music, preaching, prayer, giving and testimonies. Josh Harris led a magnificant time of prayer.

It was great to see 2 of my friends who are "with child." Congrats, Jenny and Jenni! We're praying for you! (Oh, and you, too, MO and Jon!)

As a "perfect" finishing touch to our trip, it snowed the last night we were in Maryland. It was beautiful! Kim and I drove around in it acting like we were the Millennium Falcon warping through space at ridiculously high speeds! (In reality, we were driving in a Sable at about 45 mph with our lights on bright.) We headed to Main Street Ellicott City and stood out in the silent cold air and quietly falling snow... it was beautiful...

Thanks to all who opened their homes and lives to us! (Oh, and to whom it is applicable: "your mom.")

:: Adam 9:32 AM link ::
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maryland

Had a great time visiting with my buddies @ the Bean Hollow coffeeshop last night (Main Street Ellicott City). 'Twas good to be in the mix of my mid-atlantic friends again--sharing stories over coffee/tea/chai (um, not in the same cup). Looking forward to this weekend when Kim comes in to town and we head down near DC to visit with Jon and Jenni...

:: Adam 11:15 AM link ::
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vacationing

Heading out early tomorrow AM for Baltimore/Washington area. Kim and I planned on heading up there during her school winter holiday break, but my grandpa's passing complicated things. So, we're finally getting up there this "extended" weekend! I'm looking forward to fellowshiping with all my buddies who are married to girls named "Jenny," as well as my 'ole coffeeshop pals.

Hopefully it'll snow whilst were up there! Who knows...

:: Adam 10:50 AM link ::
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the accident

Well, I promised you photos from the accident. And, here they are...


My truck a few months before the accident. I spent several hours washing, waxing and detailing it. I don't think my truck has ever had stuff done to it that extensively... nor did it look as good as it did!


Crunch! This is the damage. (The car in the background is the one that hit me.)


Here it is after Collison Works fixed it up. They did a pretty darn good job, eh??

:: Adam 12:11 PM link ::
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weak-willed

I thought I had "beaten" my addiction/reliance on coffee. But since Monday... 6 different coffeeshop visits, 5 cups-o java, 4 cups-o decaf and 1 entire french press (in all fairness, I shared that beautiful tank-o-joe with my brother). Ugh.

Big weekend... leaving for Crosspointe's annual "Elder's Retreat" in a few minutes. I hope they have coffee there.

:: Adam 8:37 AM link ::
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saved!

Kim and I finally rented that "evil movie" Saved! last week. (Note the sarcasm already flowing.) I know, I know. We should have seen it sooner. Well, here are some of my thoughts on the film...

First of all, you should see it. And, um, you shouldn't see it. At a holiday party Kim and I were at a few weeks ago, someone put it this way: "Every Christian should see the movie--it'll open their eyes up to how most people view Christians. And, every non-Christian shouldn't see the film--because it'll only make them hate Christians even more." I think that's a pretty accurate commentary. I've been living in the Christian bubble (sub-culture) long enough that when I saw the film I said with a chuckle: "yup."

How the film fell short. At the same party, another person said: "It wasn't true satire of Christianity." His point was that the film offered exaggerated hypocrisies evident in many Christians' lives, but it lacked an example of a "true" or "real" Christian. He said: "I saw many people I knew in college when I saw the film. But, I never saw 'that guy' who was the really cool, thoughtful, down-to-earth Christian."

(English Major moment: true satire possesses a character that is "real" or the "norm." Without that "straight man" there is no redeeming element to the humor. It is essentially poking fun at a person/group of persons in much the same way that a bully pokes fun at a teenager with pre-marital baldness... um... not that I would know anything about that.)

In my own opinion, the film seemed more like a malicious bashing of a group of people (Christians) rather than a healthy dose of humor about the foibles found within that group of people. Had it possessed a real or genuine Christian character, it would have been a truly thought-provoking film. I wonder... if the film had been about any other group than Christians, would the ACLU have had something to say about it?? I do think it is interesting that most Christians and Christian organizations did not create a campaign against the flick. (Actually, Relevant magazine encouraged it's readers to view the film.)

There were a couple of moral themes in the film worth pointing out. When one of the characters finds herself pregnant because Jesus told her in a vision to have sex with her boyfriend to save him from becoming a homosexual (the vision coming moments after she bumped her head underwater), she discovers who her true friends are. As to be expected from the nature of the storyline, her "Christian" friends do not understand the changes going on in her life and leave her. The only Jewish girl in the private Christian high school and the self proclaiming "not a Christian" kid befriend her and help her through the pregnancy. Likewise, the pastor's son chooses to have a dating relationship with the girl without judging her for her past. It would have been nice to see at least one "Christian" character reaching out in the same way. Again, this is where the film falls short... I can think of many of my Christian friends who reached out to me when I was "in a bad way." (Um, please don't take that to mean I found myself pregnant as a teenager... that would be just plain bizarre.)

One final comment. The whole scene where Pastor Skip does a backflip onto the stage and pumps everyone up yelling "Who's down with G-O-D!?" was just plain hysterical. *sigh* Brought back memories of youth camps...

:: Adam 10:32 AM link ::
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let them sing it for you

I can't remember if I ever posted this site before: Let them sing it for you. Fun link... basically it's a conglomeration of one-word sound bites that are put together to form messages as you type them.

There. That's your first mind-numbing, thought-less link of 2005.

:: Adam 11:42 AM link ::
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another baby blogger

*sigh* It's such a good feeling to know that I have influenced folks to start blogging. My seminary pal Chad started a blog on January 1 (great "blog day," Chad!). He said my Dec 1 post influenced him to get the thing going. (See the post HERE.) So, check out Chad's baby blog: Chad's Running Commentary.

Here are some other folks I've somewhat inspired to begin blogging (in order of creation). Check out their sites:
Earthshattering Nonsense [Scott Feldman--my bro]
Little Runon [Kim Feldman--my wife!!]
One Mo Blog [Matt "Mo" Otto--that's his $.02]
The Big G [Gerry Rogers--so, he only has 1 post... hopefully he'll read this and get posting soon! ;^)]
The Flying Pig [Tim Beard--somerandomguyimetwhilebackpackingontheatinnorthcarolina]

:: Adam 11:18 AM link ::
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happy new year, folks!

:: Adam 11:40 PM link ::
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